Post by NeandertalMan on Feb 19, 2008 11:54:46 GMT -5
"Bourbon Tunnel restoration - New Tourist venue in Naples"
Posted by Fulvio, Feb. 15, 2008
In 1853, under the Bourbon rule of Ferdinand II, the monarch signed a decree ordering his architect to construct a wide tunnel, capable of allowing military wagons and troops to pass easily and rapidly beneath the ancient Monte Echia promontory that divided passage between the royal palace and the shore line of the Bay of Naples to the West. This would allow rapid underground troop movement for defense as well as an escape route for the Royals in case of attack or uprising. Work on the tunnel continued for two years then was halted because of many engineering problems, and the outbreak of a revolutionary war.
Tunneling of the approximately 550 meter tunnel started and proceeded well from the Western end at Piazza Vittoria but as it continued toward what would have been the entrance at the Royal Palace the problems began, including running into the main aqueduct that provided water to the city. The tunnel was sealed and forgotten until 1939 and the beginning of what would become WWII. Mussolini ordered large areas of the tunnel, and a massive quarried cavity adjacent to it , to be converted for use as a huge air raid shelter. After the war the tunnel was again sealed up and forgotten about until 1968 when our own dean of Urban speleology, Engineer Clemente Esposito, President of the Southern Speleological Society rediscovered an opening to the old tunnel. Some parts of the tunnel had been used, until 1970 as a dumping ground for rubble and debris from the wartime years, including sequestered automobiles, scooters and other vehicles, which remain today under a gray pall of dust, as a fascinating glimpse back in time, as you can see in the photo above.
Today, through the hard work of local engineers and visionaries, the tunnel has been greatly restored and will be opened to the public for tours which include branching side tunnels and an ancient aqueduct as well as a mammoth cavern. The cavity resulted from from the underground quarrying of the tuf sandstone used to build palaces, convents and other major buildings up on the Mont Echia promontory. Part of the tunnel restoration has included removal of much of the debris blocking passageways. A link to the tunnel's history in Jeff Matthews' humorous and informative "Naples Encyclopedia" is below ...
We will provide more details about upcoming tours which will be offered. The restorers plan several levels of guided tours including an overall orientation tour for non-adventurers, as well as genuine speleological explorations using all the ropes and climbing gear familiar to spelunkers.
Link to JEFF's ARTICLE
by Napoli Underground
Larry Ray
Posted by Fulvio, Feb. 15, 2008
In 1853, under the Bourbon rule of Ferdinand II, the monarch signed a decree ordering his architect to construct a wide tunnel, capable of allowing military wagons and troops to pass easily and rapidly beneath the ancient Monte Echia promontory that divided passage between the royal palace and the shore line of the Bay of Naples to the West. This would allow rapid underground troop movement for defense as well as an escape route for the Royals in case of attack or uprising. Work on the tunnel continued for two years then was halted because of many engineering problems, and the outbreak of a revolutionary war.
Tunneling of the approximately 550 meter tunnel started and proceeded well from the Western end at Piazza Vittoria but as it continued toward what would have been the entrance at the Royal Palace the problems began, including running into the main aqueduct that provided water to the city. The tunnel was sealed and forgotten until 1939 and the beginning of what would become WWII. Mussolini ordered large areas of the tunnel, and a massive quarried cavity adjacent to it , to be converted for use as a huge air raid shelter. After the war the tunnel was again sealed up and forgotten about until 1968 when our own dean of Urban speleology, Engineer Clemente Esposito, President of the Southern Speleological Society rediscovered an opening to the old tunnel. Some parts of the tunnel had been used, until 1970 as a dumping ground for rubble and debris from the wartime years, including sequestered automobiles, scooters and other vehicles, which remain today under a gray pall of dust, as a fascinating glimpse back in time, as you can see in the photo above.
Today, through the hard work of local engineers and visionaries, the tunnel has been greatly restored and will be opened to the public for tours which include branching side tunnels and an ancient aqueduct as well as a mammoth cavern. The cavity resulted from from the underground quarrying of the tuf sandstone used to build palaces, convents and other major buildings up on the Mont Echia promontory. Part of the tunnel restoration has included removal of much of the debris blocking passageways. A link to the tunnel's history in Jeff Matthews' humorous and informative "Naples Encyclopedia" is below ...
We will provide more details about upcoming tours which will be offered. The restorers plan several levels of guided tours including an overall orientation tour for non-adventurers, as well as genuine speleological explorations using all the ropes and climbing gear familiar to spelunkers.
Link to JEFF's ARTICLE
by Napoli Underground
Larry Ray
